$2,200 IPO Master Day 1a | 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

07-28-2025 16:28 UTC+2

Khalil Makes a Hero Call

Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

On a board of 6♣3♥2♠K♣, Ghassan Khalil check-called a bet of 17,500 from Vadzim Lipauka, who was on the button.

A 2♦ on the river paired the board and after Khalil checked, Lipauka shoved. Khalil had around 33,000 behind and after some thinking, he dropped in the call.

Lipauka sheepishly flipped J♦9♦ for a bluff, and Khalil rolled over A♥5♥ for just ace-high to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ghassan Khalil	140,000 140,000	140,000
Vadzim Lipauka	100,000 80,000	80,000

Tags: Ghassan Khalil Vadzim Lipauka

07-28-2025 16:38 UTC+2

Mukhamedzhanov Runs Into Daou's Aces

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Antoine Daou had his stack of around 50,000 in the middle preflop against Iliyas Mukhamedzhanov.

Antoine Daou: A♠A♣ All in
Iliyas Mukhamedzhanov: A♥K♦

Daou had the best of it with pocket aces, and had no problem holding on as the 8♠Q♥Q♦8♦2♠ runout kept him ahead the whole way.

Player	Chips	Progress
Iliyas Mukhamedzhanov	375,000 25,000	25,000
Antoine Daou	100,000

Tags: Antoine Daou Iliyas Mukhamedzhanov

Level: 8

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

07-28-2025 16:50 UTC+2

Flashback: 2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series Winners

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Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

With the return of the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series, here is a look back at the champions from last summer at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino.

2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

Event	Entries	Winner	Prize
$1,100 IPO Master	937	Danesh Zargaran	$146,600
$3,300 OPE Classic Cup	193	Walid Bou Habib	$132,000
$2,200 La Notte Degli Assi	1,133	Dashinka	$355,000

Look Back at the 2024 Series Here

07-28-2025 17:01 UTC+2

Afsharorumieh Stuns Bakir

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Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Odi Bakir limped in from under the gun and after a few more limps, Afshin Afsharorumieh bumped it up to 7,000 from the button. Bakir called, one limper folder, and the cutoff called.

On the A♦5♣8♣ flop, the action checked to Afsharorumieh, who fired out 5,000. Bakir quickly made it 20,000, the cutoff folded, and Afsharorumieh called.

A 2♠ on the turn saw Afsharorumieh call a bet of 20,000 from Bakir to the 5♥ river, where Bakir shoved 46,500. Afsharorumieh asked for a count and without much thinking, he called.

"King," said Bakir as he flipped over K♦10♥ for just king-high. Afsharorumieh had that beat as he rolled over 9♠9♣ for a pair of nines to scoop the pot and eliminate Bakir.

Bakir looked stunned and was glued to his chair for around 30 seconds after the hand was over digesting what just happened, before he eventually stood up and vacated the tournament area.

Player	Chips	Progress
Afshin Afsharorumieh	700,000 160,000	160,000
Odi Bakir	Busted

Tags: Afshin Afsharorumieh Odi

07-28-2025 17:11 UTC+2

Yuan Extracts Value From Dalkilic; Senoussi Bleeding

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Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Mehmet Dalkilic opened from middle position to 3,000 and Yilu Yuan three-bet the hijack to 9,000. When it got back to Dalkilic, he called.

They saw a flop of 5♣J♦9♦, where Dalkilic check-callled a bet of 7,000 from Yuan to the 7♠ turn, where both checked.

A 4♦ completed the runout and again Dalkilic checked, then Yuan bet 15,000. Dalkilic called.

Yuan flipped A♠9♠ for a pair of nines, and Dalkilic mucked.

On the same table, Ibrahim Senoussi, who once had well over 400,000, is down to around 160,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yilu Yuan	310,000 190,000	190,000
Mehmet Dalkilic	260,000 50,000	50,000
Ibrahim Senoussi	160,000 150,000	150,000

Tags: Mehmet Dalkilic Yilu Yuan

07-28-2025 17:21 UTC+2

Don’t Miss the Onyx Super High Roller Series Cyprus

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Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Big bucks and a seat in an upcoming $100,000 buy-in Triton Poker tournament are up for grabs in the inaugural Onyx Super High Roller Series Cyprus presented by the Onyx Club.

The series at Merit Royal Diamond runs from August 9-21 and features a mix of Pot-Limit Omaha and No-Limit Hold'em high-stakes tournaments, along with some juicy cash game action. PokerNews will be on-site, live reporting the six biggest events of the series, starting with the $10,400 GG Million$ from August 9-12.

There are 12 high-stakes tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from $10,400 to $102,000, all taking place inside a luxurious resort along the Mediterranean Sea.

Find Full Series Details Here

07-28-2025 17:25 UTC+2

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Players are heading on their last 20-minute break of the day.

When they return, two more 40-minute levels will be played before the survivors bag up.

Level: 9

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

07-28-2025 17:45 UTC+2

Selected Counts at the Final Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Afshin Afsharorumieh	710,000 10,000	10,000
Hassan Nashar	625,000 365,000	365,000

Gerard Carbo Santamaria	525,000 25,000	25,000
Uladzimir Zhyharau	470,000 110,000	110,000
Felipe Ketzer	440,000 440,000	440,000
Grzegorz Kozieja	400,000 40,000	40,000
Denis Vladimirov	400,000 50,000	50,000
Maher Achour	370,000 70,000	70,000
Tamer Abdelzaher	350,000 350,000	350,000
Cheng Zhao	310,000 310,000	310,000
Vadzim Lipauka	240,000 140,000	140,000
Soraya Estrada	145,000 60,000	60,000